Thread coating apparatus



May 30, 1950 D. K. ALPERN ET AL ,407

THREAD COATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 7, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY y 1950 D. K. ALPERN ETAL 2,509,407

THREAD COATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 7, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 K/N/(JQVENTORS ATTORNEY May 30, 1950 D. K. ALPERN ETAL THREAD COATING APPARATUS 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 7, 1944 mumm f0 IIHT May 30, 1950 D. K. ALPERN ETAL THREAD COATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 7, 1944 Patented May 30, 1950 THREAD COATING APPARATUS Dwight K. Alpern, New York, and Herman M. Freydberg, Scarsdale, N. Y., and William H. Hawkins, Stamford, Conn., assignors to Freydberg Bron-Strauss, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application March 7, 1944, Serial No. 525,336. Divided and this application April 23, 1946, Serial No. 664,252

3 Claims. (or 91-32) This invention relates to an apparatus of the general character disclosed in the Girard Patent No. 1,776,073, and used in the coating of thread, cord, wire, or similar material. This application is a division of our application Serial No, 525,336 filed March '7, 1944, now Patent No. 2,483,378, issued September 27, 1949.

The invention of this application relates more in detail to a particular novel association of means for drying a coated thread, wire or cord, and a coating container and nozzle such as is described in the Girard patent and in my application supra. In describing our apparatus, we shall refer to it as utilized for the fabrication of coated thread, it being understood that the invention is applicable also to cord or wire, and that it is described as to thread merely to shorten the specification. Similarly, in claiming our invention we shall claim it as relating to thread, it being here again understood that the term thread is used in its broad generic sense and is intended to include cord, wire and like substances capable of being coated by our apparatus.

We should also like to indicate that in describing our apparatus, we shall of course outline certain theories relating thereto that we now believe to be true from those studies that we have made. However, we do not wish the patent claims to be granted us to be limited by the theories we shall set forth since those theories may prove not to be entirely correct or complete. It will be well also to consider that the apparatus we shall outline hereinafter is merely exemplary of one form of means whereby our invention may be successfully practiced, and that other means may be successfully used following our teachings to the prior art.

Those skilled in the art of course appreciate that in the drying of coated thread manufactured under the process described in the said Girard patent, it is necessary to remove the solvent from the coating material after it is applied to the thread. Heretofore, the withdrawal of the solvent has never been carried on efliciently, due to the fact that the solvent was not removed sharply from the coated thread. Thus, the air used for the removal of the solvent was allowed to move parallel to the thread as the thread moved through the drying chamber, thereby exposing the moving thread to air substantially laden with the solvent. Similarly, the air has been allowed to linger about the moving thread, or to circulate about the thread, and thereby to affect seriously the efliciency oi the drying process.

It is a feature of our apparatus that the solvent is removed from the coated thread by a sharp withdrawal or shearing action, as by an air stream moving substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the thread. It is a further feature of our invention that drying air is :moved away from the thread without having substantial movement imparted thereto parallel to the movement of the thread, so as to avoid subjecting the coated thread to air that has been freshly removed from contact with the solvent.

A further feature of our invention relates to apparatus whereby the drying air is applied to the thread in small streams. More particularly, this feature of the invention utilizes a drying chamber having a series of small openings through which the air is entered into the drying chamber transversely to the direction of. movement of the thread in said chamber. As a further feature of the invention, the air is withdrawn in a similar manner from the drying chamber, and without substantial movement being imparted thereto parallel to the movement of the thread in the chamber.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the novel arrangement of the coating apparatus relatively to the drying apparatus so that the heat of the drying apparatus may be utilized in the maintenance of the proper condition of the coating material. Our invention has, as the basis thereof, the novel conception of the placing of the coating apparatus at the top of the drying chambers, and with the arrangement of the coating nozzles such that the thread moves vertically from the several vertically positioned coating nozzles directly into the drying chambers.

As a most important feature of this portion of the invention, the thread is untouched between the moment it leaves the coating con- ,tainer and nozzle until it is within the drying chamber. This means that the coating dries in the same condition as when it is first applied to the thread by the coating nozzle, the coating being in no way disturbed by guide means orby any deviation or deflection of the thread.

We have thus described generally the main I theory of operation thereof, since variations of the apparatus will readily occur to those to whom the disclosure of our invention is presented.

Referring now to the drawings,v Fig. l is a schematic elevation of the apparatus of our invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the blower and heater apparatus as seen from the right of Fig. i. Fig. 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1, and illustrates .one of the drying chambers of our invention. Fig. 4 is a view taken substantially along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5-is a section taken along lines 3-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing the mounting of one of the pulleys of the thread guiding means as well as the movement of the threads through the coating chamber and the coating nipples.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that our apparatus comprises a heater designated generally by reference letter H, a bank of drying chambers, each of which is designated by reference numeral H), a pair of blowers or fans designated by reference numerals I and 2, and a system of ducts.

Each of the drying chambers I is in the form of a relatively long vertically positioned tunnel formed of sheet metal and glass, the glass being used so that the moving thread within the drying chamber may best be observed, it being understood that the glass may be applied wherever it is desired to do so. At this point, it will be well to indicate that the particular material used in our apparatus, and the particular mode of fabrication of our apparatus, are not important, the fabrication and material being selected merely because at present it seems that they are the most desirable.

The rear wall of each of the drying chambers In is designated by reference numeral l and is formed with a series of perforations l8 for the admission of air moved thereto by the fan vFor this purpose, the rear walls I 5 of each se ries of three drying chambers in, are in communication with a sheet metal chamber l1, that through a suitable duct l8 and a further-main duct l9 connects with the pressure side of the fan II. The composite side wall at each side of each of the drying chambers l0, separates the drying chambers from exhaust compartments 2| located between the chambers II). A part of each of the composite walls 20. designated by reference numeral 22, is perforated as shown at 23 (best seen in Fig. 4) for the escape of air from the drying chambers It to the exhaust compartments 2|. A

Each of the exhaust compartments 2| is, through a suitable duct 24 and a further duct 25, placed in communication with the intake side of the fan l2. At this point, it will be well to indicate that the rear wall 26 of each of the exhaust compartments 2 is angularly positioned as best seen in Fig. 3. The purpose of the angular wall 23 is to vary the size of each of the exhaust compartments 2| so as to present an upwardly tapering exhaust compartment. We have found that this equalizes the pressure within the exhaust compartments, all as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will also be interesting to note that the, exhaust ducts 24 connected with the exhaust compartments 2|, are positioned below the chambers l1, and below the area of the wall portions 22 in which the openings or perforations 23 are formed. Through this arrangement of the parts, there is a substantially uniform withdrawal of air from the drying chambers l0 through the perforations 23.

By referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, we shall describe the duct system through which air is moved by the fans and I2, this duct system including of course the ducts already described.

The heater H is of that type in which the air that is heated serves also to support combustion. The construction of the heater H is not important and for the purpose of understanding our invention and its operation, it is only necessary to know that air is brought into the heater and then moves into the intake side of the fan II for transmission to the drying chambers II.

In order to bring the air to the points indicated by arrows 33 and 3|, use is made of a fresh air intake 34, best shown in Fig. 2 as above the roof-line 33 of the room 33 in which the apparatus is located. Air enters at 34 under the control of the dampers 31, and then moves in the direction of the arrow 33 (F18. toward the points designated by arrows 333|. Additional air is fed past a series of dampers 33 at opening 43 within the room 33. The air from this source flows in the direction of arrows 4| to the location of arrows 333| and thence into the heater H with the other air in the direction of the arrows 42, all as is now quite apparent. It may therefore be said that at least part of the air entering the heater H and then moving in the direction of the arrows 33, 3|, 42 and 33 into the fan II is air taken partially from the atmosphere above the roof line 35 and partially air taken from the atmosphere within the room 33.

The fan I: receives its air from the drying chambers i3 through the series of ducts 24 and the large duct 23, this. air moving in the direction of the arrow 43 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The air entering the fan I: from the duct 23 is then moved outwardly through the duct 41. Part of the air so moved will flow through the duct 41 and will empty into the atmosphere as indicated by arrow 43 in Fig. 2. Part of the air will however be deflected by damper 43 so as to now in the direction of the composite arrow 33 best shown in Fig. 1, and seen also in Pig. 2. This air will move through the duct 3| and in the direction of the arrow 32 into the heater B. It will thereafter follow in the direction of the arrows 32 and 33 to the fan ll. Naturally, the fan II will supply air through, the main duct l3 and the smaller ducts l3 to the series of drying chambers Ill. Those now skilled in the art will fully appreciate that part of the air taken from the drying chambers by the fan I2 is expelled outside the room 33 within which the apparatus is located. while the remainder of the air is reheated and given to fan II for movement to the drying chambers. Itwill be further appreciated that the air moving into the drying chambers II from the fan II is therefore made up of three components; fresh air from the outside atmosphere. room air, and used air.

Through the several dampers 31. 33 and, the relationship of the air components may be varied to suit conditions. The particular ent described is very important because we have found it desirable to continuously remove from the circulating air some of the air that has been in contact with the solvent in order to maintain the emciency of the drying operation. For replacin this air, it is necessary touse room air or air from the outside atmosphere depending upon temperature and humidity conditions. We

5 believe that this portion of our invention and its value will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In order to i'urther control the amount or air supplied to the drying chambers Ill, and the pressure conditions within the chambers III, we preferably utilize separate motors HM and IIM for driving respectively fans II and I2. The drive, as is well seen in Fig. 2, is through the medium of belts 55 and 56 in a manner well known in the art. The speed of the fans is controlled by varying the resistances 51 in the circuits of the motors in a manner well known in the art. It can readily be seen that by varying the speed of operation of the fans the pressure conditions within the drying chambers ill may easily be controlled. Thus, a low pressure condition will exist; for example, where the fan I! operates to withdraw the air faster from the chamber it than the air is fed to those chambers by the fan ll. Variations of pressure are frequently important in this art, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

We shall now describe one drying chamber and its mode of operation, it being understood that the drying chambers and the apparatus used in association therewith are all the same. The drying chamber It in Fig. 3 has at its lower end a pulley 60 that is driven by a chain 6!. This chain BI is driven by a sprocket 62a on a power shaft 62, and passes over a further sprocket 63 and thence over a sprocket 64. Sprocket 63 is in driving relation to a winder spool 65 through a slip clutch 63a, and drives also a reversible thread guide 68. Sprocket 54 i fixed to a pull roll 86 that is in pulling contact with the thread.

At the upper end of the drying chamber Ii) a bracket 61 supports a coating container 68. This coating container is adapted to be heated by an electrically energized heating element 69, the lead wires thereto being designated by reference numeral 10. Moreover because it is at the upper part of the apparatus it is heated further by the convection of the hot air used in the drying chamber. The coating compound within the container 68 is designated by reference numeral II and is fed into the container irom'a reservoir Jar 12. This reservoir jar I2, as bestshown in Fig. 6, is adapted to be inverted and then applied to the mouth 13 of a holder bracket ll through which the coating material is fed into the container.

Immediately above the container 68 there are positioned a series of idler pulleys I5 mounted on a shaft '16. As best seen in Fig. 6, a series of guide rollers I1 are carried by brackets 18 secured to the top of the container 68. The thread to be coated is designated by reference letter T and is brought to the apparatus on a supply spool 80 as best shown in Fig. 3. From the supply spool 80 it is fed into a dyeing vat 8|, and then through the eye 82 and guide sleeves 83 upwardly into the drying chamber I0. It is then laid in the V groove of the extreme right pulley of th series of pulleys I5 mounted on shaft 16. The thread then passes downwardly between a pair of guide rollers I1 and into the container 68. It passes through the coating compound ii within the container and then through a vertically positioned wiping nozzle N of the class described in the Girard patent supra. From the nozzle N it moves downwardly through the drying chamber and about the pulley 60. The pulley 60, it will be remembered, is driven by the chain BI and acts to draw the several runs of thread T in the path indicated.

From the pulley 60, the thread moves upwardly to the second of the idler pulleys I5 and then downwardly through the coating compound'and the second of the vertically-positioned nozzles N to the pulley 60. It repeats this motion until finally it leaves the last idler pulley I5 and passes over guide pulley 85. From guide pulley 85 it moves about draw pulleyifi, the pulley 81, and through the thread guide 58 for winding-about the winder spool 65. The thread wound about the spool 65 is of course the finished coated thread.

Those skilled in the art will now note, that as earlier emphasized, the thread moves vertically through each coating container and vertically through each nozzle N downwardly into a drying chamber, and that no guide means are in contact with the thread between the nozzles and the drying chambers. Moreover, there is no deflection or flexing of the thread to disturb the distribution of the coating thereon. Also, there is no tendency for a gravitational disturbance of the coating as any gravitational iiow can only be in the direction of movement of the thread. This results in the thread having an extremely smooth and uniform coating such as is not possible with the arrangements of the prior art.

We shall now describe just what happens within the drying chamber III as the thread moves up and down in said chamber in the path just outlined. The air moves from the chamber ll into the chamber In through the series of perforations IS. The individual air streams thus formed by the perforations it move past the runs of thread T substantially transversely to the direction of movement of the thread in the drying chamber Hi. In effect, there will be a series of parallel air streams contacting each linearly moving thread run at points linearly spaced relatively to the thread. Each of these air streams will tend to remove or shear the solvent rather sharply from'the thread coating because of the movement of the air transversely to the moving thread. The effectiveness of this operation is most marked, and is far superior to any form of drying action we have witnessed in apparatus of the particular class.

The air is preferably withdrawn from the drying chamber iii in a series of air streams because of the movement of the air from the drying chamber in into the juxtaposed exhaust chambers 2| through the perforations 23. The effect of this withdrawal of air is to continue the movement of the air streams transversely relatively to the moving thread T and to prevent any substantial movement of the air in a direction parallel to the moving thread, or the air remaining about the thread; Because of this relationship of the parts, the air that contacts the thread is prevented from further contact with that moving thread. It is apparent, of course, that from the several exhaust compartments iii the air is then moved by the ducts 24 into the large duct 2i and thence to fan l2.

It is well to point out that the apparatus illustrated by us is designed for maximum eifectiveness and that the process we have developed and have herein described is probably most effectively carried out by the apparatus shown. Howforth to the degree indicated in this application.

Thus, for example, it is possible to utilize larger 'air streams than those that will be formed by the perforations l6 and 23. Other variations along similar lines may be made following the teachingsoi our contribution to the art, and it is important therefore that the claims granted us I be not construed so narrowly as to make it possible for others to avail themselves of our con- .tribution to the art.

We now claim: 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertical drying chamber, a coating supply container located at the upper end of said vertical or guide rollers positioned above said container,

a series of guide rollers positioned at the bottom of said drying chamber, the upper and lower rollers being in such predetermined vertical alignment with the said nozzles and the vertical drying chamber whereby a continuous thread is guided downwardly through a coating nozzle, through the drying chamber, a lower roller and thence up through the drying chamber, over an upper roller and down through a second nozzle and the drying chamber to a lower roller and so on successively through the entire series of coating nozzles.

2. In an apparatus'of the class described, a

vertical drying chamber, a coating supp y con-' tainer located at the upper end of said vertical drying chamber, a series or coating nozzles in communication with said container secured to the underside of the container, a series of guide rollers positioned above said container, 3, series of guide rollers positioned at the bottom or said drying chamber, the upper and lower rollers being in such predetermined vertical alignment with the said nozzles and the vertical drying chamber whereby a continuous thread is guided downwardly through a coating nozzle, through 8 through the drying chamber, over an upper roller and down through a second nomle and the dryin chamber to a lower roller and so on successively through the entire series of coating nozzles,and means for introducing warm air into said drying chamber with the heat oi said air functioning to maintain said coating supply warm. 7

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertical drying chamber, a coating supply container located at the upper end of said vertical drying chamber, a series of coating nozzles in communication with said container secured to the underside of the container, a series of guide rollers positioned above said container, a series of guide rollers positioned at thebottom of said drying chamber, the upper and lower rollers" being in such predetermined vertical alignment 7 with the said nozzles and the vertical drying chamber whereby a continuous thread is guided downwardly through a coating nozzle, through the drying chamber, a lower roller and thence up through .the drying chamber, over an upper roller and down through a second nozzle and the drying chamber to a lower roller and so on successively through the entire series 01' coating nozzles, and means for winding said continuous thread on a spool after it moves vertically through said drying chamber from the last of said coating nozzles.

the drying chamber. a lower roller and thence up I DWIGHT K. ALPERN.

HERMAN M. FR-EYDBERG.

WILLIAM H. HAWKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

